Bottle carrying pocket



Nov. 24, 1953 B MGCABE ETAL 2,660,290

BOTTLE CARRYING POCKET Filed May 9, 1951 3 NVENTO fiffii a xW MTOBNFVS.

latentecl Nov. 24, 1953 BOTTLE CARRYING POCKET John B. McCabe andAlexander H. Lucdicke, Jr.,

Milwaukee, Wis., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Cherry-BurrellCorporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application May 9,1951, Serial No. 225,316

' 12 Claims. 198-131) This invention relates to improvements in bottlecarrying pockets for use in the conveyor of a bottle washing machine.

Most of the bottle washers in use today are provided with an endlesschain conveyor having a plurality of tubular bottle carrying pocketswhich are open at both ends and which have one end formed with a neckportion of reduced diameter. In use, the bottle to be carried in apocket is inserted through the larger open end, neck first, so that whenthe bottle is completely inserted its neck protrudes from the neck ofthe pocket.

Bottle carrying pockets used heretofore have not been entirelysatisfactory because the neck of a bottle often becomes jammed in theneck of a pocket. Whenever such a jammed condition occurs it preventsthe bottle from dropping out of the pocket by gravity at the dischargestation, with the result that the machine must be shut down so that theoperator can remove the bottle manually. If the machine is not shut downin time, bottle breakage results.

With the above in mind it is a principal object of the present inventionto provide an improved bottle carrying pocket for use in the conveyorsof bottle washers or the like, which pocket is so designed that jammingof the bottle in the neck of the pocket is effectively prevented.

A further more specific object of the invention is to provide animproved bottle carrying pocket of the class described wherein the neckof the pocket is provided with freely rotatable rollers for contactingthe neck of a bottle positioned in said pocket.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bottlecarrying pocket of the class described which is interchangeable withconventional pockets, and which requires no alteration of the bottlewasher to permit its use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bottlecarrying pocket of the class described wherein the rollers are carriedby a snap ring, and wherein the roller unit (the snap ring and rollers)is readily removable from the pocket body.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bottlecarrying pocket of the class described which is simple and inexpensivein complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention, andwherein like characters of reference indicate the same parts in all ofthe views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a roller type ofendless conveyor for use in a bottle washing machine, the conveyorincluding the improved bottle carrying pockets;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective View of the neck end of one of theimproved bottle carrying pockets;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectionalview taken through one of theimproved bottle carry ing pockets and showing a bottle positioned insaid pockets; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the roller unit removed from the improvedbottle carrying pocket.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the numeral I 0indicates an endless type roller chain conveyor having a plurality ofbottle carrying pockets II which are tubular in shape and open at bothends. The pockets II are each tapered at one end to form a neck portionI2 of reduced diameter. The neck portion i2 terminates in an outwardlyflared rim I3 as is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The neck portion I2is formed with diametrically opposite cut away portions I4 and I5 whichextend axially inwardly from the rimmed end thereof.

A snap ring I6, preferably made of round stock, has an inner diametersubstantially equal to the outer diameter of the most restricted portionof the neck I 2. A pair of axially bored rollers I1 and I8 are freelyrotatably mounted on the snap ring I6. The snap ring I6 is normallypositioned around the neck I2 at the most restricted portion thereof.The rollers I I and I8 are normally positioned in the cut out portionsI4 and I5, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The rollers I1 and I8 are of suchsize that they project radially inwardly of the inner surface of theneck of the pocket I I to contact opposite sides of the neck of a bottle19 when the latter is placed in the pocket II.

If the bottle I9 is slightly over size in length, or if for any reason abottle is pushed into the pocket I farther than normal, the snap ring I6is expanded slightly as the rollers I1 and I8 are pushed apart by theneck of the bottle. However, since the rollers IT and I8 are freelyrotatable on the snap ring It, the bottle cannot become wedged into theneck of the pocket.- Bottles I9 will freely drop out of the large endsof the pockets by gravity at the discharge station when the pockets areexposed because the rollers are freely rotatable and can also moveradially inwardly to their normal positions as the snap ring I6contracts to its normal condition.

It is apparent that jamming of bottles in the necks of the bottlecarrying pockets is effectively prevented. It is also apparent that theroller unit, comprising the snap ring i6 and rollers l1 and I8, can bequickly and easily removed from the pocket I l for cleaning orreplacement.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as maycome within the scope of the claims.

What we claim is: r 7 h 1. In combination: a tubular bottle carryingpocket having an open bottom and having a neck portion of reduceddiameter; and rollably mounted antifriction means mounted in the neckportion of said pocket and positioned so that it is adapted to engagethe neck portion of a bottle placed in said pocket through said bottomopen- In combination: a tubular bottle carrying pocket having an openbottom and having a neck portion of reduced diameter; and roller meansmounted in the neck portion of said pocket and positioned so that it isadapted to rollingly engage the neck portion of a bottle placed in saidpocket through said bottom opening.

3. In combination: a tubular bottle carrying pocket having a bottomopenin and having a neck portion of reduced diameter; and at least oneroller mounted in the neck portion ofsaid pocket for rotation on an axisat a right angle to the axis of said pocket and positioned so that it isadapted to rollingly engage the neck portion of a bottle inserted insaid pocket through said bottom opening.

4. In combination: a tubular bottle carrying pocket having a neckportion of reduced diameter, said neck being formed with a cut-awayportion; a roller positioned in said cut-away portion and having aperipheral portion projecting radially inwardly from the inner surfaceof said neck portion; and means supporting said roiler in said positionfor rotation on an axis at a right angle to the axis of said pocket.

5. In combination: a tubular bottle carrying pocket having a neckportion of reduced diameter formed with a cut-away portion extendingaxially inwardly from the end thereof; a roller positioned in saidcut-away portion and having its periphery projecting radially inwardlyfrom the inner surface of said neck portion; and means supporting saidroller in said position for rotation on an axis at a right angle to theaxis of said pocket.

6. In combination: a tubular bottle carrying pocket having a neckportion of reduced diameter formed with a cut-away portion extendingaxially inwardly from the end thereof; a roller positioned in saidcut-away portion and having its periphery projecting radially inwardlyfrom the inner surface of said neck portion; and means removablysupporting said roller in said position for rotation on an axis at aright angle to the axis of said pocket.

7. In combination: a tubular bottle carrying pocket having a bottomopening and having a neck portion of reduced diameter; and a pluralityof rollers mounted in the neck portion of said pocket and positioned sothat they are adapted to roll'ingly engage spaced portions of the neckof a bottle inserted in said pocket through said bottom opening.

8. In combination: a tubular bottle carrying pocket having an opening atone end and having its opposite end formed with a tapered neck portionof reduced diameter, said last mentioned end portion terminating in anoutwardly flared rim, and said neck being formed with cut-away portions;a resilient snap ring removably surrounding said neck below said rim;and roller means positioned in said cut-away portions and rotatablycarried by said snap ring for rotation on axes at right angles to theaxis of said pocket, said roller means having peripheral portionsprojectin'g' radially inwardly beyond the inner surface of said neck andadapted to engage the neck of a bottle inserted in said pocket throughthe end opening.

9. In combination: a tubular bottle carrying pocket having an opening atone end and having its opposite end formed with a tapered neck portionof reduced diameter, said last mentioned end portion having an annulargroove, and said neck being formed with cut-away portions intersectingsaid groove; a resilient snap ring in the groove of said neck; androller means positioned in said cut-away portions and rotatably carriedby said snap ring for rotation on axes at right angles to the axis ofsaid pocket, said roller means having peripheral portions projectingradially inwardly beyond the inner surface of said neck and adapted toengage the neck of a bottle inserted in said pocket through the endopening.

10. In combination: a tubular bottle carrying pocket having an openingat one end and having its opposite end formed with a tapered neckportion of reduced diameter, said last mentioned end portion terminatingin an outwardly flared rim and said neck being formed with a pair ofdiametrically oppositely disposed cut-away portions extending axiallyinwardly from the rimmed end thereof; a resilient snap ring removablysurrounding said neck below said rim; and rollers positioned in saidcut-away portions and rotatably carried by said snap ring for rotationon an axis at a right angle from the axis of said shaft, said rollersbeing of such size that portions thereof project radially inwardlybeyond the inner surface of said neck whereby they are adapted to engageopposite sides of the neck of a bottle positioned in said pocket.

11. In combination, a tubular bottle carrying pocket having an openbottom and having a portion at its opposite end for receiving the neckof a bottle; and rollably mounted anti-friction means mounted at saidlast-mentioned end and positioned to engage the neck portion of a bottleplaced in said pocket through said bottom opening.

12. In combination, a tubular bottle carrying pocket having a bottlereceiving opening at one end, there being a cut-away portion adjacentthe opposite end, a holding member removably surrounding said oppositeend adjacent said cutaway portion, and anti-friction means carried bysaid holding member and having a portion positioned in said cut-awayportion of the pocket in a position to engage the neck of a bottleinserted in said pocket through the bottle receiving open- JOHN B.MCCABE. ALEXANDER H. LUEDICKE, JR.

References Cited in the file of this atent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 740,990 Parker et a1. Oct. 6, 1903 1,172,702 Gotthardt Feb.22, 1916 1,756,554 Hippenmeyer Apr. 29, 1930 2,615,749 Kuchel -1 Oct.28, 1952

